Bhubaneswar, Feb 15: After the successful completion of the 2020 Olympics, Swimming Federation of India (SFI) commenced preparations for the major international meets in 2022, viz Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and FINA World Championships, here in Bhubaneswar, in collaboration with Sports and Youth Services Department, Govt. of Odisha. The National Camp for Men’s Waterpolo probables commenced in January 2022 and will conclude till end of February 2022.
“SFI has entered into an MOU with the Odisha Government for the development of aquatic sport in Odisha and the country. With a sports friendly ecosystem and proactive support from the Government of Odisha, Bhubaneshwar was the natural choice for the Waterpolo Camps. Moreover, the facilities and infrastructure at KIITS University and Kalinga Stadium including the ABTP center at Kalinga Stadium, ticks all the boxes for us!”, shared Monal Chokshi, Secretary General, SFI.
With support from the Serbian Waterpolo Federation, two of the top Serbian coaches have arrived in India to work with both the senior & junior groups. The game of Waterpolo has evolved over the last decade. Indian players & coaches have not had any international exposure and lack the understanding on the new rules. “We need to adopt a new playbook”. With the Serbian coaches as part of the camps, we are sure that our players will rise to a new level of Waterpolo. With eight months to the Asian Games, and beyond Indian Waterpolo is set to rediscover itself in Odisha its home away from home shared, Saibal Shaw, Indian team coach in charge of the camp.
Indian swimmers showed great promise with two direct qualification times to the Olympics for the 1st time in history. For the upcoming events in 2022, Swimming Federation of India is once again expecting good performance from the swimmers at the World Championship and has put in place plans to send a strong swimming contingent with at least 1 medal prospect at the Asian Games.
With an eye to returning to participation in Waterpolo at the Asian Games after a long gap of 36 years, SFI entered into a MOU with the Serbian Waterpolo Federation.
Serbia is one of the top Waterpolo playing nations in the world and winning team at Tokyo Olympics.
The National Camp for Men’s Waterpolo probables commenced in Jan 2022 in Bhubaneswar and will conclude end of February with the selection of the core team who will continue training in the run up to the Asian Games in September 2022. In order to tap into potential talent from the Junior Boys & Girls camp have also been proposed. The national camps are sanctioned by Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and funded through SAI.
Mr. Andric Nimanja & Mr Babovic Miodrag, Serbian Coaches will also be conducting a 5-day workshop for Indian coaches. The workshop shop to be scheduled in March, will allow other Waterpolo coaches to adopt the latest tactics and game strategies.
